However after the wettest year on record in 2012, 2013 will at least start dry.

By Monday evening the rain should be moving away from the South East and sunshine is expected in much of the south and east of Britain on Tuesday.

The dry spell is expected to last into the week for the South and east, though showers will return in the north and west.

Temperatures will start at around 10C in the south and 6C in the north with the rain but cool gradually as high pressure builds over the south bringing settled cold weather.

Michael Lawrence, a forecaster at the Met Office, said the weather will turn colder and calmer after one last band of rain on New Year’s Eve.

“In the south it looks like any rain from now on will be lighter and more fleeting but the north will see some more wet weather,” he said.

Katharine Evans, Flood Risk Manager at the EA, said staff continue to monitor river levels, clear river channels and ensure flood defences are working properly, and have erected mobile flood barriers in towns such as Worcester, Bewdley, Shrewsbury and Oxford.

“ With more heavy rain forecast, it is still as important as ever to be prepared for flooding, keep up to date with the latest warnings and if you are at risk, to move valuable items to safety.

“Our teams will continue to work around the clock to protect communities from flooding, and we would urge people to stay safe by not walking or driving through flood water.”

Forecasters have said 2012 could become the wettest on record in the UK after predicting a wet and windy end to the year as flood-battered areas were warned they face renewed danger from storms.

According to the Met office just 1.8in (46mm) of rain is needed to fall before December 31 to make this year the wettest on record for the UK overall, with a new record already set for England with 43.1in (1,095.8mm) falling between January 1 and Boxing Day.

The UK as a whole had 50.8in (1,291.2mm) of rain from January 1 to December 26, with the wettest year on record for the UK currently 2000, when 52.6in (1,337.3mm) fell. Confirmation is expected next week, and would be all the more remarkable considering the drought status declared for parts of the country during the early part of the year.